Englewood Councilman Jack Drakeford dies at 75

ENGLEWOOD - Councilman Jack Drakeford, the "dean of the council," died at the age of 75 on Aug. 2, after a long life of service in the city of Englewood.

Englewood councilman Jack Drakeford on May 22 at the rededication the public safety complex.

Drakeford died at approximately 4 a.m. at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck after a long illness, said a source close to the family.

"He devoted his entire life to the city of Englewood," said Councilman Gene Skurnick, who worked with Drakeford for more than 40 years. "He was a fireman, then city clerk, then city manager, then president of the school board, then a councilman. It was unbelievable. He knew the operations of the city government from top to bottom, and acted accordingly."

He called Drakeford's passing a great loss for the people of Englewood.

"He was a very good and challenging colleague, because he knew a lot more than anybody," he said. "When you were discussing an issue, he knew the people involved, he knew the past history. I'm sorry to hear about his passing."

Councilman Michael Cohen said it was his pleasure to serve with Drakeford the time that he did.

"Councilman Jack Drakeford was a colleague and a dear friend," he said. "It's the end of an era."

Councilwoman Lynne Algrant said another thing significant "was the history that was Jack Drakeford."

"Being a black firefighter at the time he did was incredible," she said.

She added that he had always been a champion for making government and opportunities open to everyone.

"In many respects, Jack was an iconic figure in Englewood, and he touched the lives of many," said Anthony Cureton, president of the Bergen County NAACP.

Cureton said Drakeford was a personal friend of him and his family. He viewed him as a role model.

"He had state-wide respect, national respect, for who he was and what he did," Cureton said. "Though he's not here any longer, if I could just say 'thank you' again, I would."

During his tenure, Drakeford held the dual position of city clerk and city manager, being named city clerk in 1977 and city manager in 1985. He retired from both positions in October, 1993.

He first served as a Democratic councilman in the 4th Ward from 1973 to 1977, later rejoining the council in 1999. During a time when Englewood was the only remaining city in Bergen County with an appointed school board, Drakeford was appointed to two three-year terms as a member of the Englewood Board of Education in May, 1993, before returning to his 4th Ward council seat.

"I believe there is a great opportunity here to create a shared vision in municipal and school operations," then-Mayor Donald Aronson told The Record in 1993 when appointing Drakeford. "The school system's priority is delivery of quality education, and the municipal government's priority is the delivery of quality services...I don't believe those are competing objectives, but rather complementary ones."

Drakeford believed one of his greatest accomplishments was serving as the city manager for the City of Englewood, since he was born and raised in Englewood.

"I enjoy helping others and believe that my management style was different from that of others because of a culmination of my life experiences, such as professional studies and humanistic values," Drakeford wrote on his council profile on the city's website. "I believe that some of my finest moments are when I am discussing the challenges of politics."

Englewood councilman Jack Drakeford on May 22 at the rededication the public safety complex.

Drakeford died at approximately 4 a.m. at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck after a long illness, said a source close to the family.

"He devoted his entire life to the city of Englewood," said Councilman Gene Skurnick, who worked with Drakeford for more than 40 years. "He was a fireman, then city clerk, then city manager, then president of the school board, then a councilman. It was unbelievable. He knew the operations of the city government from top to bottom, and acted accordingly."

He called Drakeford's passing a great loss for the people of Englewood.

"He was a very good and challenging colleague, because he knew a lot more than anybody," he said. "When you were discussing an issue, he knew the people involved, he knew the past history. I'm sorry to hear about his passing."

Councilman Michael Cohen said it was his pleasure to serve with Drakeford the time that he did.

"Councilman Jack Drakeford was a colleague and a dear friend," he said. "It's the end of an era."

Councilwoman Lynne Algrant said another thing significant "was the history that was Jack Drakeford."

"Being a black firefighter at the time he did was incredible," she said.

She added that he had always been a champion for making government and opportunities open to everyone.

"In many respects, Jack was an iconic figure in Englewood, and he touched the lives of many," said Anthony Cureton, president of the Bergen County NAACP.

Cureton said Drakeford was a personal friend of him and his family. He viewed him as a role model.

"He had state-wide respect, national respect, for who he was and what he did," Cureton said. "Though he's not here any longer, if I could just say 'thank you' again, I would."

During his tenure, Drakeford held the dual position of city clerk and city manager, being named city clerk in 1977 and city manager in 1985. He retired from both positions in October, 1993.

He first served as a Democratic councilman in the 4th Ward from 1973 to 1977, later rejoining the council in 1999. During a time when Englewood was the only remaining city in Bergen County with an appointed school board, Drakeford was appointed to two three-year terms as a member of the Englewood Board of Education in May, 1993, before returning to his 4th Ward council seat.

"I believe there is a great opportunity here to create a shared vision in municipal and school operations," then-Mayor Donald Aronson told The Record in 1993 when appointing Drakeford. "The school system's priority is delivery of quality education, and the municipal government's priority is the delivery of quality services...I don't believe those are competing objectives, but rather complementary ones."

Drakeford believed one of his greatest accomplishments was serving as the city manager for the City of Englewood, since he was born and raised in Englewood.

"I enjoy helping others and believe that my management style was different from that of others because of a culmination of my life experiences, such as professional studies and humanistic values," Drakeford wrote on his council profile on the city's website. "I believe that some of my finest moments are when I am discussing the challenges of politics."